TOP TEN MICS EVER?

[Kurt Foster]

List your top ten favorite mics of all time. I will use newer models as a suggestion guide for the Review page. If you want to list older favorites that's cool too! Discuss ..... Fats

 

[Alécio Costa - Brazil]

I really would like to know the quality/application of the most famous Neumann Mics and their clones as well.

Cedar, I am a big fan of the models At4050 ( got 3) and GT55 (got one).

 

[RecorderMan]

1. sm57
2. Elam250/251
3. U47
4. C12
5. M50
6. U67
7. U87
8. 414
9. 421
10. D12e
..oops..need more than ten...better make it 20 at least..
11. RE20
12. Km86
13. KM84
14. KM88
15. SM7
16. 409
17. 441
18. 451
19. 77
20. 44
.....more,more, more...
21. Coles 4038
22. Royer 121
..ect...

 

[byacey]

1 C414
2 KM86
3 RE20
4 C451
5 Sony C38
6 SM57
7 SM55
8 C460
9 SM81
10 421

Bill Y.

 

[sdevino]

1. Earthworks QTC1
2. RE20
3. KSM44
4. KSM32
5. SM57
6. TLM103
7. MD421
Most are out of order except for #1.

Mics I have but don't tend to use:
KM184 (the Earthworks always win)
U87 (1 out of 5 times it is great the rest of the time it is toooooo bright and harsh.)

 

[sdevino]

Sorry I posted the top 10 I own, not ever.

 

[Kurt Foster]

Steve, Go ahead and list your top ten picks of all time if you don't mind? I value your oppinion. Kurt

 

[cjenrick]

Wow, the 89 dollar SM57 on a lot of lists! How do they do it!

 

[NeonCactus]

Bruel & Kjauer 4011 (The best Hi Hat mic)
Coles 4038 (Amazing do everything even with high SPL's mic)
AKG 414 TLII (Same capsule as a C12 but not tube)
Neumann Tlm 170r ( Best Tom mic known to man)
or at least in my opinion
Neumann M149 (Perfect and versatile for almost every vocal application-but not limited to)
Audio Technica 4060 ( Best 1200 tube mic i've ever heard)
Sony C800 (Do I need to say)
Sennheiser 421 ( Amazing dynamic mic-workhorse)
AKG D112, and D12 ( Great Kick Drum mics
And last but not least - Da 57 just because
I love rock music and well there isn't much rock
that is not using this cheapie but goodie!

 

[MPlancke]

Originally posted by ChrisHatfield/Engineer:

AKG 414 TLII (Same capsule as a C12 but not tube)

Unfortunately AKG has never reconstructed the brass CK12 capsule. The capsule in the subsequent C12VR and 414's are teflon caps that have been "tuned" to sort of sound like it's brass capsuled cousin, but misses the mark by a long shot. Of course AKG doesn't seem to think this is the case.

Mark

 

[spratz]

Keep in mind that I am on a budget. This is in no specific order...

TLM-103 (with the VMP-2)
Marshall 2001 with Royer mod.
AT 4050
Green Bullet
SM-7
SM-57
Beyer M-88
EV RE-20
421
Audix OM-3xb (I really like the way it sounds on my voice)

jason

 

[Davedog]

These would have to be only the top ten that i've used or heard the direct results just after use...in no order whatever
SM-81
SM-57
SM58
PE-50
U87i
MD-421
MD-441
AKG-451
U-67
SM-7
the second ten would look like this
MD-409
D-12
C-17
AKG 4050
A-51
Beyer M-500
Beyer 422
D-1 Audix
D-4 Audix
RE-20
so much for 'lists'